Coal Miners Memorial, Price, Utah
Coal Miners Memorial, Price, Utah
On September 7th, 2015 this memorial was dedicated in Price, Carbon, Utah on the corner of 100 East and Main Street. This memorial contains the names of 1353 miners who lost their lives in the mines of Carbon County.
Following the dedication of this monument five other satellite monuments were placed in locations in Carbon and Emery counties. These satellite monuments contain the names of every coal mine that has been in the County. The three monuments in Carbon County are in Helper, Scofield and East Carbon.
For a list of all the miners, their ages, the date they died, the cause of the accident and the mine they died in, visit this webpage: http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/minersmonument.html
Please feel free to leave a tribute. Tell us your thoughts about the monument, if you have relatives listed on the monument or would like to share a story. We’d love to have photos of each of the men listed on the monument. Thank you for visiting.
5 Comments. Leave new
Very nice.
Joseph Irving Bodily died in the Castle Gate Mine 3-8-1924
Henry Eugene Smith died 3-8-1924 in the Castle Gate Mine at the age of 30.
Orin Clifford Smith died 3-8-1924 at Castle Gate Mine.
Picture with his wife Lillian Forster Smith.
This is a history of Henry Eugene Smith, Orin Clifford Smith and Joseph Irving Bodily. They were brothers and brother-in-law who all died in the Castle Gate Mine disaster.
The following is the Story of how the Castle Gate Mining Disaster affected the Smith Family.
Compiled by Henry Eugene’s Great Granddaughter, Kimberly A. Savage 2024
Prince Henry Smith married Katrina Birgitta Sonberg from Spring Glen, Utah.
In 1909 Prince Henry was appointed as the postmaster in Scofield, Utah and their family lived there for a year. Finding work was difficult at times. The family was always searching for new ways to make a living. An article in the Eastern Utah Advocate inspired the Smith’s along with the Sonberg’s to move to Canada in 1911. The article promised “Cheap irrigated farms in Canada, two years without any payments, eight yearly payments afterward. They sent 6¢ for an illustrated pamphlet to Taylor Brother’s agents 104 Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Prince Henry Smith took his family to Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. The family consisted of Prince Henry Smith, his wife Kate Sonberg Smith, and their children, Henry “Eugene”, Orin Clifford, Florence Karen and Gladys “Gloria” Marie Smith. Their daughter Flossie had died in 1900 at the age of 5. Kate’s mother was not doing well and so they headed back to Spring Glen, were Karen Sonberg, died in 1912.
In 1912 The Utah Fuel Company’s Castle Gate Mine No. 2 opened in Willow Creek Canyon. Utah’s coal production was booming during WWI. Jobs were plentiful. A man could make up to $0.80 an hour, which was a good wage.
Eugene was now 18 and had been working for a year as a Lineman.
The family moved to Castle Gate where Prince Henry Smith began working in the mine. A family gathering was held there to baptize his children, Orin and Florence, on July 7, 1912. The Rowley family came from Spring Glen to Castle Gate. Prince Henry’s sister had married a Rowley. Orin and Florence were baptized by their cousin L. J. Rowley and confirmed by their father Prince Henry Smith in Castle Gate.
Times were tough and money was hard to come by. Kate Smith was delinquent on her taxes for her property in Ewell and Helper.
More trials were felt in 1915 as the family lost their matriarchal Grandfather Jens Christian Hansen Sonberg at the age of 79 to pneumonia in Spring Glen, Utah.
In 1915 Eugene tried his hand at raising beets in Spring Glen. A Mr. Lants sent a letter with instructions on the proper planting of beets. He sent planting machines to be used around the county.
Eugene met a young lady by the name of Ardith Barney from Clawson, Utah. She was working and living with her sister Ella Barney Tatton in Rolapp.
For the winter Ardith returned to her parent’s home in Clawson. Eugene was working in the mine in Cameron and continued to court Ardith via letters. He wrote and expressed how wonderful it was to receive her letters and how he missed her and wished she was not so far away. Eugene wanted her for his wife and expressed unending love for her in the letter.
Many people at the time enjoyed dances and programs. On the 3rd of April 1917, the following came from Cameron to Castle Gate to go to a dance, program and Lunch: Florence, Orin, Eugene and Gladys Smith. Ardith Barney, Elzada and Lee Tatton. Gladys, Florence and Ardith were all on the program with Florence Smith reciting the poem The Patchwork Quilt; Gladys Smith reciting the poem Four Leaf Clover; Ardith was very talented and could play the piano very well. She also had an exceptional singing voice.
On May 21, 1917, Ardith Barney and Eugene Smith were married at Ardith’s home in Clawson, Utah by her father Joseph Orson Barney, who was the Bishop of the Clawson ward. Many family members came from near and far to attend the grand event. Eugene brought his parents, and siblings to Clawson with him. The newspaper described the event in the following way: “Miss Ardith Barney, one of Clawson’s most popular and highly respected young ladies, and Eugene Smith, a popular young man of Cameron, were joined in the holy bonds of matrimony. A nice lunch was served, and songs, readings and games were indulged in until a late hour.
Ardith’s dress was of white silk crepe de chine with an over-slip of silk georgette crepe.
The happy couple motored to Cameron Tuesday morning where they will make their future home. Miss Florence Smith, Colensa Farrimond and Lee Tatton all left for Cameron the same day.”
Late in the year Eugene sent in his draft registration paperwork and within less than a year Eugene was drafted into the Army from the town of Rains. He was initially scheduled to be sent to Camp Lewis in Boulder, Colorado for a two-month training before starting his service in the Army.
Things were constantly changing for Eugene, because on the 9th of May 1918 he was scheduled to participate in a two-month training course at the University of Colorado before entering the Army in a technical area. Fortunately, he was delayed and was able to be at home on May 10, 1918, when his first child, a lovely little girl was born in Castle Gate. They named her Valgene Lavoyl Smith.
On May 22, 1918, Ardith was in Castle Gate with her new baby Valgene. Eugene had been sent for training at the Student Army Training Core (SATC) from May 20 – 31, 1918 in Boulder, CO. Eugene wrote that the conditions were not very good, and he was very lonesome. He was resigned to sleep on a straw laden floor. He did not have time to write, which he really wanted to do. He missed his dear wife and new baby. He was working in the black smithing area although he had been assigned as an auto-mechanic. His paperwork listed that he had the following work experience, 2 years at Auto-driving, 3 years at Blacksmithing and 3 years in a Locomotive shop. Eugene’s leg was bothering him, and he was not able to stand at attention and was reprimanded occasionally for it.
May 31,1918 brought more change for Eugene. He was discharged as a Private in the National Army, unassigned on account of physical disability. It was said by the Infantry Captain, “While a member of the detachment his services were honest and faithful and his character excellent.”
Prince Henry’s daughter Gladys Marie Smith was baptized by her cousin L. J. Rowley and confirmed by her father Prince Henry Smith on Aug 4, 1918.
By fall Orin Clifford had been drafted for WWI.
Work in the mines was sporadic and so on May 5, 1919, Ardith and Eugene traveled from their home in Castle Gate to visit Ardith’s parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Barney in Clawson for the Summer. Eugene found employment working on the road in Emery County.
By fall Eugene brought his family back to Castle Gate and were renting house #105, living next to Eugene’s parents and siblings. Prince Henry, Kate, Orin, Florence and Gladys Smith were renting house #104.
Orin Clifford Smith was working in the Castle Gate mine as a Rope rider. Rope riders did the most dangerous work in the mines, balancing precariously on the hitches between coal cars as they wound through darkened tunnels. When the cars were full, the rope rider would signal that it was time to return to the surface. Several of the dangers included smoke and gas, cables and ropes breaking loose, the low ceiling tunnels that could injure the miner’s head if care was not taken, broken bones from getting caught in the cars and more.
Eugene held several jobs while working in the Castle Gate mine. He was the Hoist man, Teamster, Driver and miner.
Kenneth Orin Smith was born on Oct 13, 1920, in Castle Gate, Utah to Ardith and Eugene Smith. On Dec 5, 1920, The Smiths blessed him in the Castle Gate Ward by Bishop Morgan D. Evans.
In 1921 Joseph Irving was released from his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Since the sheep business was not good, Irving was looking for work for a while. He sold aluminum ware for a time called “Wear Ever”. One person told him he was too honest to be a good salesman, so he finally gave it up. One day John L. McConkie saw Irving and told him of a good job he had just learned about at Castle Gate, Utah. They needed miners there.
Joseph “Irving” Bodily arrived in Castle gate in July of 1922 from Vernal. He became the Superintendent of the Sunday School in Castle Gate six weeks after he arrived. He also was working in Mutual.
Irving worked with different people while in the mine. He told his partners that if they had to use profanity to do it somewhere else as he did not enjoy such. He would reprimand people for swearing and profanity. He was large in stature not afraid of people and not afraid of death.
Irving liked dancing. He was an exemplary big brother and feared no one. He was strong and very capable of making decisions quickly. His nickname was “Bulldog”.
On Nov 28,1922 Prince Henry Smith died at the age of 64 of asthma and effects from working at the mine.
March 15, 1923, was a joyous day for the Smith family. A double wedding was held. Joseph “Irving” Bodily and Florence Karen Smith Orin Clifford Smith and Lillian Forster all of Castle gate. The marriage was performed by Orin and Florence’s 1st cousin Bishop Silas Rowley of Spring Glen. Orin and Florence were brother and sister.
For Christmas Joseph Henry Bodily visited Joseph Irving and Florence Bodily at Christmas. They had a beautiful Christmas tree decorated to the utmost. They were living with Orin’s mother and sisters who ran a boarding house for miners in Castle Gate.
By the 1920s, production had tempered. In February 1924 single working men were temporarily laid off at the Castle Gate Mine. Married men were kept on working eight-hour shifts.
In 1924 the Smith family was involved in a life altering tragedy. Henry “Eugene” Smith, Orin Clifford Smith and Joseph “Irving” Bodily were working in mine #2 in Castle Gate, Carbon County, Utah. All three were working the same early 8am shift, on March 8th, when an explosion ripped through the mine killing all of them.
Within minutes, a second explosion took out the wall of the mine’s fan house. Twenty minutes later, a third explosion sliced the mine’s steel doors from its concrete frame. Inside, the mine entrance and main tunnel caved in. Rail lines twisted. Roof supports snapped.
A number of miners were working in the “first dip entries,” others were a mile from the entryway, and more were deep within the tunnels. All were entombed, which included Henry Eugene Smith, Orin Clifford Smith and Joseph Irving Bodily. According to the U.S. Mine Rescue Association, the gas and coal dust explosions “started as a methane ignition” attributed to the inadequate watering down of the previous shift’s stirred-up coal dust and the open flame “of a fire boss’s cap lamp” that he used to relight a “key-locked flame safety lamp” that had gone out.
The family was in a state of grief that is impossible to comprehend. In the beginning there was hope that there would be survivors. Each day a list of those found was displayed at the post office and Amusement Hall. The Smiths would have been checking multiple times. A blockade was created to prevent widows and family from coming to the mine entrance site.
A pocket watch was located on one of the first men who was recovered. The watch had been smashed and preserved the exact time the explosion happened.
Hundreds had gathered and were weeping for their loved ones. Every day, for more than a week. The Barney family came from Clawson as soon as they heard about the disaster. The Tatton brothers Lee and Joe Tatton joined the rescue teams. Lee and Joe had been working in the Cameron Mine and were trained as rescuers. Lee was Eugene’s brother-in-law. Lee and Joe were living in Cameron, a short distance from the Castle Gate mine.
From Ardith’s sister, Elzada’s journal she wrote, “The gas was so bad that they could not get in the mine for some time. The men would take a canary in a cage holding it ahead of them. If the bird died, they would go not proceed until better ventilation could be established. Lee and Joe worked the 9 am to 9 pm shift and then would come home for 4 hours of rest before going back. They continued with the rescue teams. The Knights of Phythias hall was converted into a morgue. Raging fires, debris and poisonous gases impeded rescue efforts. Several “helmetmen” nearly succumbed to the deadly gases. The recovery of the charred, dismembered or broken and nearly unrecognizable bodies took nine days.
Joseph “Irving” was brought out at 11 pm on the 11th. His body was shipped to Vernal on the 13th. His funeral was held Sunday March 16th at 3pm. Florence who was married to Irving remained in Castle Gate and did not attend her husband’s funeral, as they had not identified her brothers yet. This must have been very difficult for her.
Joseph Henry Bodily, father of Joseph Irving Bodily was living in a lodging tent in San Bernardino, California at the time of the disaster. He picked up jobs here and there as they became available. He received a telegram, telling him of an explosion at the mine in Castle Gate, Utah where Joseph Irving, his oldest son worked.
Joseph Henry Bodily asked himself many questions he could not answer about his son. “Was he killed, if so, how long would it be before they found his body. If they found the bodies, would they be able to identify them, if they were able to identify them, how soon would they be compelled to bury them? If he was dead, should he leave him there alone to be buried?
Each miner was assigned a number according to the order they were found. Eugene was #43, Orin was #45 and Irving was #115. Orin and Eugene were found close to each other in the 7th right dip. Irving was found in the 6th right dip. According to Stan Harvey’s interview Eugene and Orin were found near the location where the first blast happened.
March 11-12, 1924, Eugene was listed among those dead, but he had not been identified.
It would be 6 days before they identified Eugene’s body on the 13th. He had been in the morgue for several days. He was identified by the darning in his sock.
On the evening of the 14th, they identified Orin by his tooth.
As of 15th the news reported that they still have not identified Orin Clifford’s body.
A Funeral was held in Spring Glen for Orin on March 16th.
The dead were placed in a coal car and taken to the morgue.
Gladys who was now going by Gloria Smith said that her brothers, Gene and Orin and brother-in-law were “gassed”. Their bodies were not recognizable.
The bodies were sealed in aluminum coffins and were placed on the porch of the church during the funerals.
March 1924 Joseph Henry Bodily received a letter from Joseph McKnight of Price, Utah. He was sending his consolation and in conclusion said, “Brother Bodily, your son was a saint at heart, and he bore a wonderful testimony. The last time I saw Irving was about 1 month ago at Sunday School Union Meeting, at which he was always in regular attendance.”
Money was being gathered across the country to assist those who were left widowed and orphaned. The Castle Gate Relief Fund was created to help those effected by the disaster. They hired a social worker that followed the families. Her name was Annie B. Palmer. Those left in the family were Kate Smith, her daughters Gloria and Florence Bodily and her two daughters-in-laws, Ardith Barney Smith and Lillian Forster Smith. The children orphaned were Valgene and Kenneth. Ardith and Lillian were both expecting babies and gave birth in 1924 after the explosion. Ardith’s little boy was Hylon Eugene Smith and Lillian’s little boy was Clifford Orin Smith.
Mrs. Joseph H. Bodily (Joseph Irving Bodily’s mother) requested relief due to her son Irving’s death. Florence Smith Bodily was given an allowance of $150 to assist in the funeral expenses, but since she not only lost her husband, but also her two brothers the family were in destitute circumstances, Mrs. Bodily, did not have Florence give her the money to transport Joseph Irving’s body.
On May 17th of 1924 Ardith gave birth to a “fine baby boy” while staying with her parents in Clawson, Utah.
In June Kate, Florence and Gloria were living in a comfortable house and were paying $23.50 in Castle Gate. Kate ran a boarding house and had five men boarding with them. She kept her home clean and well furnished. They had a new Ford Sedan and a piano. Orin had an insurance policy that would be going to his mother, Kate. Orin and Lillian had only been married for almost a year. He supported and lived with his mother and sister.
Lillian went to live with her parents in a comfortable home in Rolapp. There were some ill feelings between her and Kate over the insurance policy. When the family came to visit just before Clifford was born, they were refused.
In the summer Ardith visited her sister Elzada Tatton in Rolapp. She had been staying with her parents (Joseph and Elizabeth Barney) at Clawson, but felt she needed to move to help support her family. Her father took her to Provo to look over some property at Lake View, but it was sold while they were deciding. She applied for support from the relief fund and was granted $17.50 per month which was later cut to $16 per month. She owned and Old Ford Truck and had a piano but owed on it. Her father paid off the debt on the piano to save the interest.
June 24th, 1924, Lillian Forster Smith gave birth to Clifford Orin Smith after his father had died in the mine in March. (Orin Clifford Smith)
Kate owned 40 acres of land and a city lot at Spring Glen. The 40 acres she considered of no value whatever – the city lot had a value of $700.
In August Lillian moved her parents and new baby, Clifford to 289 North West Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. A short time later they moved again to 448 North 6th West Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.
In September Gloria started High School in Price, while still living at 402 “B” Castle Gate, Utah with her mother and sister.
Ardith bought a comfortable small cement home in Provo and started attending BYU in the winter of 1924. Her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Barney was taking care of the children. Her father intended soon to return to the farm at Clawson.
Mrs. Elizabeth Barney had written a “poem” which she was very anxious to have sent to all the mothers and widows of the men killed in the explosion. She asked Mrs. Palmer the social worker with the Relief Fund to help her get this accomplished without expense to her.
Mrs. Palmer having arranged with Judge Ericksen to send the “poem” out with Utah Fuel Company’s checks; and with Mrs. Roberts of the BYU Typewriting Department to have students make copies, sent paper to the home for the verses, asking that Mrs. Ardith Smith take it to Mrs. Roberts. In February of 1925 the poem, which had finally been copied was taken to the office of Judge Ericksen to be put in with checks sent out.
(The “shepherd” in verse five refers to the bishop of Castle Gate Ward, Ben Thomas, who also died in the explosion on his very first day working underground.)
We’ll Meet on the Other Side
Dear mothers and wives, little children and all,
My heart fills with sorrow for you.
In the loss of your husbands, fathers and sons,
Your burden is heavy, it’s true.
In the depths of the mine, where the sun cannot shine,
A tiny light leading the way
Thru black, looming coal, stretching veins far and wide,
Near two-hundred entered that day.
After leaving their loved ones at the break of day
With light heart and cheery goodbye,
They entered the man-trip and sped to their rooms
Little dreaming that death was nigh.
There’s scarcely a city or town in our state,
Or village in a foreign land,
But lost some companion, a loved one or friend
By that sacred love-tying band.
Not alone did they enter the portals of death,
But were joined by a shepherd bold
Who will pilot the way on the journey,
Till each joins the heavenly fold.
God is no respecter of his children dear,
Though we’re not all made just alike;
Death deals to each one a terrible blow
And we know not where it will strike.
He enters the humblest and lowliest hut,
As well as the grand mansions wide.
Takes parents, a youth, or a sweet, laughing babe
And oft’ times, a young, blushing bride.
He sails on the water, he rides on the storm,
Brings sorrow to every land.
Only God, kind merciful Father of all
Can e’er stay his powerful hand.
Our prayers are now with you for comfort and peace;
Our flag still waves loyal and true.
Dark storm clouds that gather will soon go away;
Our Father is mindful of you.
Elizabeth Barney -Clawson, Emery County, Utah—8 March 1924
In the summer of 1925 Kate and her daughters moved to Salt Lake City. Florence worked in an overalls factory. Ardith was working at United Grocery as a cashier. Ardith was living with her, and she was taking care of two of the children, Valgene and Kenneth Smith. Her own mother, Elizabeth Barney having the baby with her.
Gladys had secured work at the Star Picture Show and was making $65 per month. Florence is working in the millinery industry.
In the fall of 1926 Lillian Smith was remarried. She had previously moved to California with her parents. She was on speaking terms with her husband’s family before she went away, and Mrs. Katie Smith spoke well of her.
Mrs. Kate Smith had with her Hylon, the small son of Ardith, her daughter-in-law. She said she could not live without this little grandson to comfort her. She had been having some trouble with her brother about her farm.
The struggles of these families during the era of the great depression, accompanied by one of the greatest mine disasters in American history, left a void in their lives that would seem insurmountable. The example of hope and endurance are inspiring to those of us who share their names, and relations.